Foreign tourists wearing hanbok pose for photos at Jejumok Government Office, a Joseon Dynasty-era administrative complex located in the old town area of Jeju City. (Yonhap)
JEJU, South Korea, April 14 (Korea Bizwire) — A combination of viral YouTube content and a hit Netflix series is propelling Jeju Island to new heights as a must-visit destination for Taiwanese tourists, with 2025 shaping up to be another banner year for the South Korean resort island.
According to data released by the Jeju Tourism Organization, the number of Taiwanese visitors to Jeju jumped to a record 159,485 in 2024 — more than double the 69,941 who visited in 2023, and an 81 percent increase over the previous all-time high set in 2019.
The upward trend continues in 2025, with January and February drawing 19,217 Taiwanese visitors, up over 50 percent from the same period last year.
Industry experts credit the surge to a viral video posted by Taiwanese YouTube channel Tsai Aga, which boasts more than 2.5 million subscribers. In December 2022, the Jeju Tourism Organization invited the creators to produce a travel series during a 5-day tour of the island.
The resulting videos became the top trending content on Taiwanese YouTube and have since amassed over 2.1 million views. Following the videos’ success, a Taiwanese travel agency quickly launched a package tour replicating the YouTubers’ itinerary, which sold out within a month.
Spots featured in the videos — including Jejumok Government Office, Chilseong-ro, and coin karaoke rooms — were once overlooked by international tourists but are now teeming with Mandarin-speaking visitors. Tsai Aga’s team returned in 2024 to film a second series, which has also drawn nearly 1.9 million views.
Familiarization Tour for Kaohsiung Travel Industry and Media from Taiwan (Image provided by Jeju Tourism Organization)
A local tour operator noted that most Taiwanese visitors are independent travelers who often seek out the exact spots featured by influencers. “These days, if you see a group of tourists in traditional hanbok at Jejumok Government Office, chances are they’re following a YouTube itinerary,” the operator said.
Jeju’s growing appeal among Taiwanese tourists has also been supported by improved air and sea connectivity. Direct flights between Jeju and Taipei now operate daily, with Tigerair, T’way Air, and Eastar Jet launching or expanding services since late 2022.
Additionally, cruise routes from Taiwan, which resumed in mid-2023 after a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic, brought ships to Seogwipo’s Gangjeong Port seven times last year. Direct flights between Jeju and Kaohsiung are also set to resume this month, with T’way Air offering four weekly flights starting April 22.
Adding to the momentum, Netflix’s Jeju-set original series When Life Gives You Tangerines — known in Taiwan as Poksak Sokassuda — has become a breakout hit. The show topped Taiwan’s non-English TV rankings on Netflix’s official chart last month, further fueling interest in Jeju’s scenic landscapes and cultural spots.
“Given the continuing growth in Taiwanese arrivals, we’ve been working on themed travel products highlighting Jeju’s K-drama and reality show filming locations,” a Jeju Tourism Organization official said. The agency is also partnering with Taiwanese tour operators and cruise companies to expand customized content and charter cruise packages aimed at Taiwanese visitors.
With social media virality and pop culture appeal driving demand, Jeju appears well-positioned to deepen its popularity among Taiwanese tourists in 2025 and beyond.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
